Considering diverse occupant profiles in building design decisions

The main concern of the designer should be providing a comfortable indoor environment for occupants. Previous studies have focused on enhancing indoor conditions by addressing architectural factors related to the average comfort of users, often neglecting the fact that occupants differ in their needs and preferences in the design phase. However, designing buildings that cater to a diverse range of occupants is fundamental to successful building design. This study develops and demonstrates a workflow to integrate various occupant types at the design stage and evaluate designs based on all four domains of comfort and energy simultaneously. To achieve this objective, the study initially presents an "occupant profile sheet" derived from a survey conducted among building experts. This sheet comprises essential occupant parameters that practitioners should integrate during the design stage, aiding in the classification of occupants into distinct profiles. Next, a parametric workflow that evaluates various design options based on performance metrics for different occupant profiles is developed. Finally, it employed a case study using the proposed workflow to evaluate the impact of considering diverse occupants on the selection of optimal design parameters. The findings highlight the fact that incorporating diverse occupant types in the design process can influence architectural decisions. Overall, the research offers designers a practical guide for accommodating occupant diversity in building design, creating a more inclusive environment for a broader range of occupants.